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Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer

Tags: Cracking open, off topic, geekend, osborne1

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A classic luggable PC

A classic luggable PC
The Osborne 1 was the word's first self-contained portable personal computer. Many of the design decisions and innovations first seen in the Osborne 1 are still being used today some 25-plus years later. We could not resist taking a look inside this piece of computing history in this TechRepublic Cracking Open Photo Gallery.

A quick note on the Cracking Open Photo Galleries: I am not an engineer and these galleries are not attempts to name every chip we see. So please, if you have knowledge about what is inside the Osborne 1, share it with us.
                                                                                                                         

Print/View all Posts Comments on this gallery

A joyful indulgenceMark W. Kaelin Techrepublic | 03/19/08
Blast from the pastramalex9@...  | 03/20/08
1st in ukbaragwnath@...  | 06/18/08
Happy memoriesmikeholli  | 03/25/08
Mainframe IBM 34's ,WANG, and ADPckguyfromsi@...  | 03/25/08
Mainframe IBM 34's ,WANG, and ???papwalker@...  | 03/27/08
The challenge of 64krwmiller@...  | 10/03/08
Brings back some memorieskheard1@...  | 03/26/08
Not sure if it qualifies as a portable computer . . .wgtudor@...  | 03/30/08
Sounds interestingMark W. Kaelin Techrepublic | 03/31/08
RE: Definition of 'computer'rick@...  | 04/20/08
Familiar Groundsparker@...  | 06/19/08
Regard power supply an requirements.htolo@...  | 09/30/08
Osbornedjohnson16@...  | 10/23/08
It's been a while old friendLarry Huisingh  | 03/20/08
Reminds me of how old I amMitchgonavy  | 03/21/08
No 18186dlkcad@...  | 03/21/08
Serial Number 14349dlcobb@...  | 03/26/08
Have two and a Kayprojkaplenk@...  | 04/12/08
Still have the bounced checkBruceWheelock@...  | 10/01/08
Fond Memoriespaul.hazard  | 10/13/08
Re Image 31 - F6821P Chipsramalex9@...  | 03/20/08
ThanksMark W. Kaelin Techrepublic | 03/21/08
more 6821 info (usage), et. al.campbell@...  | 03/25/08
Re Image 31dano@...  | 03/25/08
Re Image 58 - Heat sinkramalex9@...  | 03/20/08
Yes-does bring back old memories.ak331@...  | 03/21/08
Not so much a lack of "computing power"...JohnMcGrew@...  | 03/21/08
Floppy Disk ICs Were Available & General Musingsrick@...  | 04/20/08
Osborne internalsaduana@...  | 10/24/08
Re: Image 18 - Do Not Remove While Power Is Ontmchesser@...  | 03/24/08
Re: Image 18 - Video Connectorgelfling6@...  | 03/28/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portabsrinivas_nivas2008@...  | 03/25/08
W-R-O-N-G !!tundawenna2@...  | 03/25/08
Very interestingMark W. Kaelin Techrepublic | 03/25/08
Hp 80 Series Infotech-help@...  | 03/25/08
I am intriguedMark W. Kaelin Techrepublic | 03/26/08
More HP-85 Detailslen-morgan@...  | 03/26/08
"Full Size" Floppy diskslen-morgan@...  | 03/26/08
8" Floppy Drivesdjohnson@...  | 03/27/08
Own an OS-1 and used it until 2006bshodges3@...  | 04/07/08
Interesting, BUTebell@...  | 03/26/08
wikipedia history of Osborne, etcmr_bandit  | 10/13/08
don't forget the Kayprowill.melmoth@...  | 10/22/08
HP-83aduana@...  | 10/24/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)jamason56@...  | 03/25/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portabkstevedahl@...  | 03/25/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)p.kappes@...  | 03/25/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)bbodnar1@...  | 03/25/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)niccic@...  | 03/25/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)citizenperth@...  | 03/25/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)scorpion_saga@...  | 03/25/08
RE: A classic Luggabe PCrvoight@...  | 03/26/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portabmaddoghall  | 03/26/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portabJon N  | 03/26/08
A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)htsui@...  | 03/26/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)john.ogrady@...  | 03/26/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portabmrydesky@...  | 03/26/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)bobabrahams  | 03/26/08
Still got mine :)Hands0n  | 03/26/08
Still got mine toomandyhill@...  | 04/02/08
I have only just got onepblatchford@...  | 10/07/08
Still have mine, too.carpenter114@...  | 10/13/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)developer4700-subscriber@...  | 03/26/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)robertleeking@...  | 03/26/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)chrislombardi1@...  | 03/26/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portabdonpar  | 03/27/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portabdgh@...  | 03/28/08
Re: Philippines' chipsmiguel@...  | 03/28/08
RE: Is that part with the "wings" a heat sink?miguel@...  | 03/28/08
Image 52 - Belt driven, looking for trouble?gelfling6@...  | 03/28/08
belt drivemakje@...  | 06/20/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)#1 Kenster  | 03/28/08
My memories of tech past.firstaborean  | 03/29/08
What about Computer Devices?j_d_white_jr@...  | 03/30/08
I challenge that!mikeholli  | 03/30/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portabntra9236@...  | 03/30/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portabmark@...  | 04/09/08
CP/M - IBM meetingbrucerobb1  | 10/20/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)dries_dupreez@...  | 06/18/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)kubwak@...  | 07/07/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)smbradeen@...  | 09/26/08
All this for $1,795. What a bargan!Ex-Employee.com  | 09/29/08
the ROM BIOSbill-techrepublic@...  | 10/01/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)opcom  | 10/06/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portabbruce@...  | 10/08/08
RE: A classic luggable PC (Cracking open the Osborne 1: The original portable computer)walter@...  | 10/09/08
Ozzie Exechinckleyl@...  | 10/10/08

What do you think?

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